13.1.2026
US President Donald Trump has called on all Americans leave Iran as he weighs military options against the government of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mr. Trump according to reports has been briefed on a range of covert and military options to target Iran, according to two Department of Defense officials.
The U.S. Department of State-operated “Virtual Embassy Tehran” issued an emergency notice January 12, stating, “Leave Iran now.” US has no physical presence in Tehran.
The virtual embassy warned, “Even showing any association with the U.S. in Iran can lead to detention,” and recommended leaving via land borders through countries such as Armenia or Türkiye. However, it added, “Even if you decide to leave via a land border, safety cannot be guaranteed,” and advised, “Only leave when you deem it safe.”
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday that Iran’s theocratic regime was living its last days.
“When a regime can only hold on to power through violence, then it is effectively finished,” Chancellor Merz told reporters in Bengaluru during a visit to India.
“I believe that we are now witnessing the last days and weeks of this regime.
“Iran’s leaders have ‘no legitimacy’ as they were not elected by the people and the population was now ‘rising up’, Merz said, adding: ‘I hope that there is a way to end this conflict peacefully.”
He said Berlin was in contact with the United States and other European governments with the aim of ensuring “that there can be a peaceful transition to a democratic government in Iran.”
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is ‘prepared for war’ but also open to negotiations with Washington.
Araghchi, speaking to the Qatar-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera in an interview aired Monday night, said he continued to communicate with US envoy Steve Witkoff.